Talks have not been frozen between India, Pakistan, PM will decide: Khurshid

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Last Updated: Thu, Jan 17, 2013 12:41 hrs

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Thursday that India has not closed the option of talking to Pakistan despite the recent provocation of repeated ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC), and added that it would be the Prime Minister's decision to consider engaging with Islamabad again.

A television channel quoted Khurshid as saying that it was necessary for all differences existing between the two countries to be resolved before considering a proposal to resume talks at the level of foreign ministers.

"The differences have to be resolved and for that we need to proceed with wisdom, keeping in mind the interest and sentiments of the nation. We will await the prime minister's direction in this regard," Khurshid told the CNN-IBN news channel.

He added: "Having said that, it is certainly something that we noted and something that we would look very carefully and let us see what is acceptable. Talks have not frozen between India and Pakistan."

Khurshid was speaking a day after his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar had called for foreign minister levels talks to thaw tensions in both countries arising out of the recent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

"What we have always maintained is that there is a problem and we have to resolve it among ourselves and we cannot be hoping and working towards finding somebody else to step in and resolve it," Khurshid said.

Khurshid said:"An atmosphere is needed for the talks to go on. We are hopeful that Pakistan will understand the message sent by our Prime Minister."

He added: "Some signals are positive. What we heard from the military is welcoming. But we have to assess the overall situation." (ANI)